Real Housewives of Atlanta's Apollo Nida Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Apollo Nida, the husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, pled guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud charges on Wednesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.Nida, 35, could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and fined ...

Nida, 35, could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and fined a maximum of $1 million, in addition to the estimated $2.3 million he owes in restitution to those he conned. His sentencing is set for July 8. His co-conspirator, Gayla St. Julien, received a 60-month sentence last month.

According to assistant U.S. attorney Alana Black, Nida opened a fake debt collection agency to gain access to databases full of individuals' personal information. He then allegedly stole people's IDs to find unclaimed funds, refunds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, stole U.S. treasury checks and refunds from fake U.S. income tax returns. He then opened UPS mailboxes and checking accounts using those fake identities, deposited those checks and would then pocket the money.

Nida later allegedly created fake auto dealerships to get auto loans for phantom cars.

The reality star appeared in court on Wednesday and said he takes "full responsibility" for his actions. "It was a dumb situation I put myself in," he said. He went on to blame his actions on the pressure he felt to make as much money as his wife, Phaedra Parks, who has starred on the Real Housewives of Atlanta since 2010.